And.....We're off! Jesus' ministry certainly seems to have started with a gusto - already angered a group of church leaders and healed many many people.
The scene in the synagogue is the most interesting to me today. He starts off with "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words" (v. 22) and moves quickly to "filled with rage" (v. 28) and trying to throw him off a cliff. I can't decide if Jesus was just that naive or if he was looking for a fight. His ministry is just starting, maybe he's got to learn some political smarts. I frequently find myself in the position of having said just a little too much - those times when I should have stopped earlier, instead of elaborating and getting myself in trouble. It happens alot with my kids' questions - I should stop at "yes" or "no" but feel compelled to go on to "why" and I end up getting into issues that they're just not ready for.
There is a lot about the truth of God that I get angry about. The examples of all those not helped that Jesus gives is one of those. Sure, God relies on us to help those in need - but when there is miraculous intervention, why is it so arbitrary? Why are some people miraculously cured of cancer and others aren't?
At the end of ch. 4 Jesus is healing anyone and everyone that is brought to him - - but deliberately not in Nazareth. So in some ways it's less aribitrary (he's healing anyone who comes), but still ....not in Nazareth.
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